Frame for show cards



April 4, 1967 l- R. YARDER FRAME FOR SHOW CARDS Filed May 19, 1965 INVENTOR- .ZZYQHBER.

jRVZNE United States Patent Ohio Filed May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 456,926 7 Claims. (Cl. 40152.1)

This invention relates to a frame for show cards or similar signs and is particularly designed to provide for the rapid disassembly and reassembly of a portion of the frame to permit prepared show cards or signs to be inserted and removed from the frame.

Frames, according to the present invention, are mounted on the sides of buses or other surfaces. Advertising show cards of a generally standard size are placed in the frames for contracted periods of time. The show cards are removed after the contracted period of time and are replaced by similar cards of the same standard size.

Prior art frames of the type shown in Kowalski United States Patent No. 3,016,642 have presented a problem when they are, for example, mounted on a side of a bus. Many bus companies wash their buses each night after they have been used during the day. The Washing apparatus consists of longitudinally extending cylindrically shaped brushes which are mounted on a vertical axis and which rotates around such vertical axis. The vertical extending brushes are spring biased inwardly toward the sides of the bus. Normally there are at least one pair of these vertically extending brushes which are spaced apart and spring biased toward each other. The bus is then moved between the rotating brushes which forces the brushes slightly outwardly thereby urging the respective brushes against the opposed sides of the bus. It has been found that if frames similar to the Kowalski frame are used the removable side of the frame is sometimes pulled from the remainder of the frame as the brushes pass over the frame. This occurs either when the person who placed the captive screw of the Kowalski frame in the keyhole slot, did not fully seat the screw in the slot or if the slot itself becomes worn. This problem is much greater when the frames are constructed of a resilient material, for example, an extruded plastic material. When an extruded plastic material is used for the frame, a captive screw-keyhole slot locking arrangement is not satisfactory. When a force is applied the keyhole slot Widens 0r expands allowing the captive screw to escape from its seat. This often occurs during a typical bus washing operation as was described above.

It is the principal object of the instant invention to provide a frame for show cards or signs which has positive means for locking a removable frame member to the remainder of the frame.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a frame for show cards which provides for the rapid assembly and disassembly of one of its sides to permit the removal and insertion of cards into the frame through the side which has been opened.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide a frame for show cards having locking means which prevent accidental disengagement of the removable frame member when the frame is constructed of a semi-resilient material.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide a frame for show cards which includes means for spacing the frame from the side of the object to which it is attached.

This and other more specific objects and advantages will be better understood from the specification which follows and from the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective, with a portion broken away, of a frame embodying the instant invention and indicating by dashed lines a removable frame member which has been disengaged from the remainder of the frame;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational. view of the back of the upper corner of the frame shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating how the upper end of the removable frame member is retained in place; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the back of the lower corner of the frame shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating how the lower end of the removable frame member is retained in place.

Briefly, the invention relates to a frame for show cards. The frame includes first and second frame members which form opposed sides of an open center frame. A third frame member extends between the first and second frame members and forms a third side of the open center frame. A fourth removable frame member extends between the first and second frame members in an opposed relationship to the third frame member and forms the fourth and final side of the open center frame. The ends of the removable frame member and the adjacent ends of the first and second opposed frame members have cooperating retaining means which consist of a retaining pin mounted at one end of the removable frame member and a cooperating pin receiving hole in the associated end of one of the first and second frame members. An arm on the other end of the removable frame member extends inwardly adjacent the associated end of the other of the first and second frame members when the frame is in a closed position. The arm defines a retaining opening and a captive member is mounted on the associated end of the other of the first and second frame members. The captive member is adapted to seat in the arm retaining opening when the frame is in the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 1, a frame according to the instant invention is generally indicated by the reference number 10 and is shown in FIG. 1 mounted upon a side 11 of a bus. The frame 10 includes a longitudinal first frame member 12, an opposed, parallel, second frame member 13, a stationary third frame member 14 extending between the first frame member 12 and the second frame member 13 and a removable frame member 15 which exmember 14 and is the fourth and final side of the open frfame 10. All four of the frame members 12, 13, 14, and 15, are fabricated from lengths of frame molding, in this instance illustrated as an extruded plastic molding. The frame members 12-15 have a back 16, a front 17, and a cross web 18 extending between the back 16 and the front 17. The ends of each of the frame members 12-15 are mitered and the joints between the first and second frame members 12 and 13 and the stationary third frame member 14 are secured, for example, by connecting screws. In another embodiment, not shown, the third frame member 14 is not fixedly secured to the first and second frame members, but rather, corresponds structurally to the removable frame member 15. In this embodiment either the third frame member 14 or the fourth frame member 15 may be removed for the insertion of an advertisement. Another advantage of having opposed removable frame members is that the frame 10 may be easily disassembled for shipping or storing.

The show card, advertising sign, or other sign (indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 2) to be mounted in the frame 11 is of such size that its edges fit into the slots formed between the backs 16 and the fronts 17 of the frame members.

A plurality of generally U shaped spacer members 19 are preferably mounted on the backs 16 of the respective frame members 12-15. The spacer members 19 hold the backs 16 of the frame members 1215 in spaced relationship to the surface upon which they are mounted, for example, the side 11 of a bus. Many modern buses have exhaust openings (not shown) located in their sides and the spaced mounting of the frame is provided so as not to interfere with the normal operation of the air conditioning exhaust system.

The backs 16 of the frame members 12, 13, and 14 have suitably located holes 20 for the reception of mounting screws 21. The open center frame 10 as a whole is attached to the side 11 or other surface upon which it is mounted by the screws 21. In the present embodiment the spacer members 19 are provided with holes 22 which index with the holes 20 and the spacer members 19 provide reinforcement for the portion of the plastic backs 16 of the frame members 12, 13, and 14 at the locations which are weakened by the presence of the holes 20.

The removable frame member 15 is designed to be readily removable and replaceable thereby providing for the insertion and removal of the show cards upon which advertising or the like is imprinted.

Referring to FIG. 4, the lower end 23 of the removable frame member 15 mounts a right angle member 24 by means of screws 25 or similar fastening means. A leg 26 of the angle member 24 extends inwardly and lies parallel to the cross web 18 of the second frame member 13 when the frame 10 is in the closed position indicated in FIG. 1. The leg 26 of the angle member 24 mounts a retaining pin 27 (see FIG. 4). The retaining pin 27 cooperates with a pin receiving hole 28 located in the cross web 18 of an associated end 29 of the second frame member 13. When the lower end 23 of the removable frame member 15 is placed in position and the leg 26 of the right angle member 24 inserted in the slot between the back 16 and the front 17 of the second frame member 13, the retaining pin 27 seats in the pin receiving hole 28 to hold the removable frame member 15 in place at its lower end.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an upper right angle member 30 is mounted on the upper end 31 of the removable frame member 15 by screws 32. The angle member 30 has an arm 33 which extends inwardly, in underlying relationship with the cross web 18 of an associated end 34 of the first frame member 12. The arm 33 of the angle member 30 is inserted into the slot between the back 16 and the front 17 of the associated end 34. A retaining opening 35 is provided in the arm 33 of the angle member 30. In the present embodiment, captive member holding means are generally indicated at 36. The holding means 36 includes a holding bracket 37 having a first leg 38 and a second, generally perpendicular, leg 39. The first leg 38 of the holding bracket 37 is fastened to the back 16 of the first frame member 12 by rivets 40 or by other suitable fastening means. In the instant embodiment, the first leg 38 of the holding bracket 37 is essentially the same depth as the back 16 and serves as a reinforcing member to provide structural strength. As was noted above, the frame members 12-15 are often constructed of a resilient plastic material and it has been found that reinforcement of the associated end 34 of the first frame member 12 is very beneficial. Such reinforcement helps insure a positive locking connection between the first frame member 12 and the removable frame member 15 so that the open center frame 10 is not damaged or accidentally pulled apart.

In the present embodiment, the second leg 39 of the holding bracket 37 is generally U shape-d and overlies the cross web 18 of the first frame member 12. A reinforcing slug 41 is inserted between the spaced sides of the U shaped second leg 39 of the holding bracket 37. A

threaded hole 42 is provide-d in the second leg 39 and the reinforcing slug 41. A coaxial opening 43- is provided in the cross web 18 of the associated end 34 of the first frame member 12. The threaded hole 42, in the second leg 39 of the holding bracket 37, the coaxial opening 43, in the cross web 18 of the first frame member 12, and the retaining opening 35, in the arm 33 of the right angle member 30, are in indexing relationship when the frame 10 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1. A captive member, in this case a captive screw 44 is rotatably mounted in the threaded hole 42. When the frame 10 is in the closed position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the captive screw 44 is moved downwardly whereby it extends through the coaxial opening 43 in the cross web 18 of the first frame member 12 and also through the retaining opening 35 of the arm 33. The holding bracket 37, the captive screw 44, and the angle member 30 are all constructed of metal. Therefore, if a force is applied to the removable frame member 15 urging it to the right, as shown in FIG. 1, it does not tend to tear or otherwise damage the frame member 12. When it is desired to remove a show card or advertising sign from the frame 10, the captive screw 44 is turned upwardly until its bottom end has cleared the retaining opening 35 in the arm 33 (see FIG. 3). The removable frame member 15 is then swung downwardly and to the left (see FIG. 4) to disengage the retaining pin 27 from the pin receiving hole 28 located in the associated end 29 of the second frame member 13. The show card may then be removed and replaced and the frame 10 is reassembled by reversing the above-described procedure.

.While the present invention has been disclosed with a specific arrangement and disposition of the parts, it should be expressly understood that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A frame for show cards and the like comprising in combination, first and second frame members forming opposed sides of an open center frame, a third frame member extending between said first and second frame members forming another side of the open center frame, a fourth removable frame member extending between said first and second frame members in opposed relationship to said third frame member, the ends of said removable frame member and the adjacent ends of said first and second opposed frame members having cooperating retaining means consisting of a retaining pin mounted at one end of said removable frame member, a cooperating pin-receiving hole defined in the associated end of one of said first and second frame members, an arm on the other end of said removable frame member extending inwardly adjacent the associated end of the other of said first and second frame members when said frame is in a closed position, said arm defining a retaining opening, a holding member mounted on the other associated end of said first and second frame members in overlying relationship with said arm when said frame is in the closed position, and a captive member mounted by said holding member in indexing rela-' tionship with such arm retaining opening, said captive member being adapted to seat in the arm retaining opening when said frame is in the closed position.

2. A frame according to claim 1 in which the frame is rectangular and the removable frame member forms the fourth side thereof.

3. A frame for show cards and the like comprising, in combination, first and second frame members forming opposed sides of an open center frame, a third frame member extending between said first and second frame members forming another side of the open center frame, a fourth removable frame member extending between said first and second frame members in opposed relationship to said third frame member, the ends of said removable frame member and the adjacent ends of said first and second opposed frame members having cooperating retaining means consisting of a retaining pin mounted at one end of,

said removable frame member, a cooperating pin-receiving hole in the associated end of said second frame member, a mounting member mounted on the other end of said removable frame member having an arm which extends inwardly adjacent the associated end of said first frame members, said inwardly extending arm defining a retaining opening, a holding bracket having a first leg mounted on the back of said first frame member and a perpendicularly extending second leg, and a captive member movably mounted on said second leg of said bracket, said captive member being adapted to seat in the arm retaining opening when said frame is in a closed position.

4. A frame according to claim 3 in which the frame members are constructed of a semi-resilient plastic material.

5. A frame according to claim 3, including generally U shaped spacer members mounted at predetermined intervals on the backs of the respective frame members.

6. A frame for show cards and the like comprising, in combination, first and second frame members forming opposed sides of an open center frame, a third stationary frame member extending between said first and second frame members forming another side of the open center frame, a fourth removable frame member extending between said first and second frame members forming the last side of the open center frame, each of said frame members having a back, a front, and a cross web extending between said back and said front, the ends of said re movable frame member and the adjacent ends of said first and second opposed frame members having cooperating retaining means consisting of a retaining pin mounted will at one end of said removable frame member, a cooperating pin-receiving hole in the associated end of said second frame member, a right angle member mounted on the other end of said removable frame member having an arm which extends inwardly in underlying relationship with the cross web of said first frame member when the frame is in a closed position, said arm defining a retaining opening, a holding bracket having a first leg mounted on the back of said first frame member and a second leg extending perpendicularly from said first leg in overlying relationship with the cross web of said first frame member, said second leg defining a threaded hole in indexing relationship with such arm retaining opening when the frame is in the closed position, and a captive member movably mounted in such threaded hole of said second leg, said captive member adapted to seat in the arm retaining opening when said frame is in the closed position.

7. A frame according to claim 1, in which the frame is rectangular and the third frame member and the fourth frame member are both removably mounted whereby the frame may be readily disassembled for shipping or storage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1952 Edwards 40155 1/l962 Kowalski 40-152 

1. A FRAME FOR SHOW CARDS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS FORMING OPPOSED SIDES OF AN OPEN CENTER FRAME, A THIRD FRAME MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS FORMING ANOTHER SIDE OF THE OPEN CENTER FRAME, A FOURTH REMOVABLE FRAME MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS IN OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID THIRD FRAME MEMBER, THE ENDS OF SAID REMOVABLE FRAME MEMBER AND THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED FRAME MEMBERS HAVING COOPERATING RETAINING MEANS CONSISTING OF A RETAINING PIN MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID REMOVABLE FRAME MEMBER, A COOPERATING PIN-RECEIVING HOLE DEFINED IN THE ASSOCIATED END OF ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS, AN ARM ON THE OTHER END OF SAID REMOVABLE FRAME MEMBER EXTENDING INWARDLY ADJACENT THE ASSOCIATED END OF THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS WHEN SAID FRAME IS IN A CLOSED POSITION, SAID ARM DEFINING A RETAINING OPENING, A HOLDING MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE OTHER ASSOCIATED END OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID ARM WHEN SAID FRAME IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION, AND A CAPTIVE MEMBER MOUNTED BY SAID HOLDING MEMBER IN INDEXING RELATIONSHIP WITH SUCH ARM RETAINING OPENING, SAID CAPTIVE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO SEAT IN THE ARM RETAINING OPENING WHEN SAID FRAME IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION. 